A season of curling

A-Event Winners from the 2023 Charles J. Futterer Memorial Bonspiel

The Cook County Curling Club recently wrapped up its 2022-2023 season with the ever-popular Charles J. Futterer Memorial Bonspiel followed by league playdowns. Now that the final shots have been played, and the ice is out of the arena, there is a chance to reflect on what made this season so special. The curling club could not exist without the numerous dedicated club and community members who volunteer their time. Special thanks goes to the ice crew, bonspiel organizers, meal and beverage coordinators, league captains, coaches, and board members.

The Charles J. Futterer Memorial Bonspiel was held on March 10th-12th, 2023 and there was fierce (but friendly) competition between 20 teams. The club hosted teams from across Minnesota, Ontario, and as far away as Arkansas. Jon Shaw, Matt Whitehill, Greg Rhode, and Shane Erickson from Two Harbors were the winners of the A-Event playing against Bob Hedstrom, Craig Futterer, Tim Martin, and Steve Day from St. Paul. The B-Event was also won by a Two Harbors team Steve Josephson, Andy Buel, Randy Hedin, and (Cook County’s very own) Bob Spry. Andy Skildum, Jed Lahti, Jon Bredeson, and Sean Carpenter from Duluth took the C-Event. The D-Event winners were Gary Johnson, Kim Morgan, Don Kruzick, and Karen Etelapaa from Thunder Bay. Besides the entertainment of watching some wonderful curling, the bonspiel attendees were also treated to a magic show performed by The Amazing Chaz! A raffle fundraiser was held as well and a heartfelt thank you is extended to all the sponsors, local businesses, and club and community members who donated items. The Futterer family also deserves special thanks for hosting such a successful bonspiel!

A-Event Winners from the 2023 Charles J. Futterer Memorial Bonspiel

As I reflect on the curling season, I think back to the excitement of walking into the club for the first time after our two-year hiatus. Connecting with curling club friends, many whom I hadn’t seen since “the beforetimes”, brought such warmth and happiness to my heart! Seeing the lights reflecting brightly off the ice sheets and the stones lined up neatly in preparation for a season of epic shots and heartbreaking near misses was absolutely thrilling! I’m sure I’m not alone when I say the first few slides out of the hack were a little rough, but soon enough the rust was brushed off and we were well on our way to a wonderful season.

Part of what made the season so great was the large number of new curlers we were able to introduce to the sport. Starting the season with a number of events focused towards beginners, such as the annual “Soup & Sweep”, we were able to develop new enthusiasm in the community and share our love of the sport with a wider audience. Open curling events on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday afternoons allowed for beginners to be trained on curling basics, delivery techniques, and game strategy in a no-stress environment. We will be excited to welcome our new curlers back next year! If you are interested in trying out this incredibly fun winter sport, look for publicity next fall about our beginner events, drop in for an open curling session, or reach out to the club to schedule a group lesson with family or friends.

Our returning club members also made this season particularly special. Many returning members added new curlers to their team or skipped an entire team of new curlers. They helped teach, train, and develop skills throughout the course of the 4-person and 2-person league season. Our junior team did exceptionally well this year; training hard all season, their efforts paid off with an outstanding showing at the Two Harbors Five & Under Bonspiel.

The 4-person league playdowns were held on March 20th along with the end-of-the-season potluck. The team, skipped by Andrew Smith, was victorious which also included Jed Smith, Joanne Smith, and Dan Kennedy. Playing against Bill Bockovich, Dave Homyak, Chris Homyak, and Sara Schoonover in the final, the Smith rink made some excellent shots to win the game (and bragging rights until next season).

The curling season is a bright spot in the dark days of winter. The club is a place for people to gather and compete in a highly technical sport, but also, it’s a place to share stories, laughter, and friendship. A community of people who delight in the successes of their fellow club members whether it is on the ice or in some other aspect of their lives. Curling is a game of skill and strategy, but above all, it is a sport which celebrates good sportsmanship and teamwork. I feel very fortunate to have found such a wonderful community, and I hope that next season we can bring many more people into the club. On behalf of the Curling Club Board, thank you for the wonderful 2022-2023 curling season. I’ll be excited to see y’all in seven months and to wish you, “Good Curling”!